Engine Cooling Electromagnetic Valve Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine cooling systems fail to maintain the warm state of the engine when intermittently stopped, as the electromagnetic valve opens due to residual pressure after the electric refrigerant pump is stopped, leading to increased power consumption and reduced fuel efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An engine cooling system that includes a control unit to shut off voltage to the electromagnetic valve after a predetermined time period following the stop of the refrigerant pump, ensuring the valve remains closed, even when the pump is stopped, using a combination of a rotational speed sensor and pressure sensor to adjust this timing based on pump conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the electric refrigerant pump is stopped to decrease power consumption during intermittent engine stops, then power consumption is reduced, but the electromagnetic valve opens due to residual pressure causing the refrigerant to flow through the engine and the warm state cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidmaintenance of closed state

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit maintains voltage application to the electromagnetic valve for a predetermined period after stopping the refrigerant pump. This preliminary action ensures the valve remains closed during the period when residual pressure might otherwise cause it to open, allowing the system to achieve power savings while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If the electromagnetic valve is opened to allow refrigerant flow during normal operation, then cooling function is provided, but power consumption increases when the valve is kept closed during intermittent stops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcooling function

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic control where the electromagnetic valve is kept closed during intermittent engine stops (when cooling is not needed) and opened during normal operation (when cooling is required). The control unit intelligently switches between these states based on engine operation conditions, achieving energy savings during stops while maintaining cooling productivity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the refrigerant pump is stopped to decrease power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the engine warming-up time increases upon restart due to loss of warm refrigerant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidwarming-up time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By maintaining the electromagnetic valve in the closed state through continued voltage application after pump stoppage, the system prevents warm refrigerant from flowing out of the engine. This preliminary protective action preserves the warm state during intermittent stops, so that when the engine restarts, the warming-up time is minimized because the refrigerant remains warm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively maintains the closed state of the electromagnetic valve during intermittent engine stops, reducing power consumption and improving fuel efficiency by retaining the warm refrigerant within the engine, thus shortening the engine's warming-up time upon restart.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic valve arranged in the refrigerant circulation flow channel and changing a flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

a refrigerant pump configured to circulate the refrigerant through the refrigerant circulation flow channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical pumping: Pump

Implementation Method 3

If the current application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off in this state, the closed state of the valve cannot be maintained and the electromagnetic valve is opened causing the refrigerant to flow through the engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResidual pressure management:

Data Source

PatentUS9988968B2Engine cooling system and method for operating the same

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An engine cooling system including a refrigerant circulation flow channel passing through an engine, an electric refrigerant pump, an electromagnetic valve arranged in the refrigerant circulation flow channel, and a control unit. In the engine cooling system, when the electric refrigerant pump is stopped and the voltage application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off when the electromagnetic valve is closed and the electric refrigerant pump is in operation, the voltage application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off when a first predetermined time period has passed after the electric refrigerant pump is stopped. When the engine is intermittently stopped during warming up of the engine, current application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off while the closed state of the electromagnetic valve is maintained.